4th of July Is Historically Dangerous Day for Drivers

Americans in Illinois and across the nation are gearing up for one of the biggest holidays of the year. As the 4th of July nears, families will be busy finalizing their plans, making sure travel arrangements are in order, and turning on the barbecue. One thing that may not be getting their focus is the safety of the roads around Independence Day and the significant risk posed by driving during the festivities.

It is unfortunate but the holiday that celebrates America's independence is now linked with drunk driving, speeding, and recklessness on the roads. This combination results to create one of the deadliest days of the year to be a driver or a passenger on a road of any size and in any state in the nation. In fact, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates that 148 people will be killed on the road on the 4th, about 30 percent more than the standard average of 114 fatalities each day.

The increase in the number of traffic fatalities is one of the big reasons that many local law enforcement agencies use heavy patrols of city and county roads during times when celebrations are expected. The belief is that the increase in patrol will allow officers to apprehend dangerous driver before an accident occurs or even deter some drivers from acting negligent in the first place. If a driver notices a heavy police presence, the thought is that the driver may be less likely to text behind the wheel, blow through a stop sign, or speed. Any positive change in driving behavior can save a life.

Drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs pose a threat to everyone in the vicinity, including passengers within their vehicle, other drivers, bicyclists, or even pedestrians. A driver affected by an intoxicating compound cannot adequately make the necessary decisions to ensure a safe drive which is why it is illegal to drive while under the influence. Yet when faced with the possibility of a celebration with families and friends, too many drivers forget this and choose to drive after drinking and people end up hurt or killed.

Independence Day should be a time of fun celebration and at Abels & Annes, P.C., we encourage you to have a great holiday but also to keep safety in mind. Never drive after drinking and never let someone else drink and drive. If your celebrations will include alcohol, consider using a designated driver, taking public transportation, or using a taxi to get around town.

If you have been injured in an accident with a negligent or drunk driver, call the Chicago car accident lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. today for a free, no obligation telephone consultation. We are standing by 24 hours to take your call at (312) 924-7575 or call us toll free at (855) 529-2442. After an accident, it is important to realize that you have rights and that you may have a claim for your damages. Call us today and let us help you towards the path to recovery.

Prior Blog Entries:

Woman Runs Into Building With Car, Injures Baby, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published July 2, 2013.

Pace Van Causes Crash in Roseland, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published June 30, 2013.

Resources:

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Research & Stats.

Photo Credit: Greenbay, stock.xchng.

Chicago Car Accident Lawyer

Deficiencies in Bridges May Place Illinois Drivers in Danger

Home > Car Accident > Deficiencies in Bridges May Place Illinois Drivers in Danger

A new study indicates that more than 8 percent of bridges in Illinois have structural problems that may lead to dangerous conditions for drivers in the state. The study was conducted by Transportation for America, an organization focused on improving American infrastructure, and reports that nationally, about 11 percent of bridges are in danger.

Many of the nation's bridges and overpasses are old, causing much of the problem. With most designed intended for a 50 year life, the average age of America's bridges hovering around 43 years means that the current problem will only increase in the future unless steps are taken soon.

According to the report, Illinois has 26,514 bridges and overpasses, of which 8.7 percent have been deemed structurally deficient. This designation is applied to bridges that need some immediate repair to an area that threatens safety.

In the past decade, there have been multiple bridge collapses that have garnered public attention. Some of those turned fatal with unsuspecting motorists losing their lives. This study indicates that more tragedies like this could continue to happen, claim the lives of many Americans and injuring others. Illinois is no exception as the state's numerous highways and bodies of water mean there are bridges and overpasses everywhere.

Awareness of safety concerns related to aging bridges increases but the means to fix the bridges does not follow. Without a significant source of financial support, many of these structures will remain in their dangerous condition indefinitely, threatening drivers on a daily basis.

Though it is cruel, there may be little that an average citizen can do to rectify this situation until an accident happens. After that, a victim may have a claim against a city or state for allowing a dangerous bridge to remain in its dangerous condition while in use. But this does not eliminate the problem or prevent loss of life which means that it is a focus on the tragic outcome and not on prevention.

If you have been injured in an accident caused by a dangerous or defective bridge, it is important to realize that you can get help and that you may have a claim for your loss. As a victim, it is your right to seek representation you deserve to help you in a time of need.

A personal injury attorney can take a difficult and complicated case and handle it for you, often getting you a settlement where none was previously offered or getting you a larger settlement than if you were not represented by leveling the field with insurance companies.

If you have been injured in an accident, let the Chicago personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. provide you with a free, no obligation telephone consultation regarding your accident and whether you have a claim. At Abels & Annes, we only represent victims and we fight for our clients every day. We have a lawyer standing by 24 hours to take your call so please reach us toll free at (855) 529-2442 now and let us help you.

Prior Blog Entries:

Motorcyclist Killed in Lakeview Crash, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published June 21, 2013.

Barrington Hills Man Charged in Fatal DUI Accident, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published June 20, 2013.

Resources:

More than 8 percent of Illinois bridges structurally deficient, by Ravi Baichwal, ABC 7 News, published 19, 2013.

Photo Credit: runrunrun, stock.xchng.

Chicago Car Accident Lawyer

Fatigued Drivers Contributing to Risk of Car Accidents in Chicago

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that one of its recently conducted studies revealed that about 5 percent of drivers have fallen asleep at the wheel at least once in the last 30 days. The CDC conducted this study to truly illustrate the dangers of drowsy driving and the number of car accidents in Illinois and elsewhere.

Other studies reveal even more alarming statistics. The National Sleep Foundation also conducted a similar study that determined that about a third of all drivers have fallen asleep while driving over the last year. Another 13 percent of drivers from that study reported falling asleep while driving at least once over the last 30 days.

Our Chicago car crash attorneys understand that these statistics are likely much, much higher. Not all drivers will willingly report to an officer that they were fatigued or drowsy during a traffic accident. For this reason, no true number can be recorded. There's no equivalent to a Breathalyzer to monitor someone's level of sleepiness.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are approximately 100,000 motor-vehicle accidents that happen every single year that are caused by fatigued drivers. These types of accidents kill approximately 1,550 people and injure 71,000 more. These accidents result in nearly $13 billion in losses every year.

Some studies even conclude that about a fourth of all traffic accidents involve a drowsy or fatigued driver, according to Automotive Industry Today.

Fatigued driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving. Both scenarios significantly reduce a driver's ability to respond to traffic challenges and road hazards. The Centre for Sleep Research, which is based out of Australia, concludes that a driver that has been awake for about 18 hours has the same reactions as someone with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05. A driver that has been awake for an entire day, or 24 hours, has the same abilities as a driver that has a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10. In Illinois, a driver is legally drunk when they've hit a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08.

One of the most ineffective ways that a driver can try to "cure" their sleepiness is to just pull through it. Many drivers believe that they can just drink some caffeine, open the windows or turn up the music to wake them up. These are only temporary fixes and won't last long, putting you right back into serious risks for a car accident.

Tips to prevent fatigued driving accidents:

-Schedule driving breaks. A driver should stop every three hours. Use this time to get out of the car and stretch.

-Get enough regular sleep. Drivers who get an average of six or seven hours of sleep each night are as much as twice as likely to be involved in an accident as a driver who regularly gets eight hours of sleep. Drivers who average five hours of sleep are five times as likely to be involved in an accident.

-If you feel tired behind the wheel, pull over and rest or switch with a passenger. Never continue to drive if you feel sleepy at the wheel.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident with a fatigued driver, the personal injury attorneys and wrongful death lawyers at Abels & Annes offer free and confidential appointments to discuss your rights. Call (866) 99-ABELS. There is no fee unless you win.

More Blog Entries:

Distracted Driving Car Accidents in Chicago Believed to be underestimated, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, August 25, 2011

Deadly Chicago area auto accident caused by wrong way driver, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, August 21, 2011

Chicago Car Accident Lawyer

Driver's Ed Vehicles Could Be Endangering Teens in Chicago Car Accidents

Your teen driver may be learning to drive in a vehicle that has some of the worst safety ratings. The Chicago Tribune looked into the matter in an attempt to figure out which cars our young drivers are learning in and the results are frightening.

A large number of Chicagoland schools are putting our teens in the driver's seat of vehicles that would likely not adequately protect them in the event of a Chicago car accident.

Our Chicago injury attorneys understand that the type of vehicle that a motorists drives has a significant impact on occupant safety in the event of an accident. Motorists are asked to consider crash and safety ratings before selecting a vehicle to purchase. The make and model of your car can mean the difference between life and death.

After examining the vehicles of 50 schools in the area, the Chicago Tribune discovered the following about driver's education vehicles:

-Safety is hardly ever a top concern for Illinois officials and schools district leaders when selecting a vehicle for students to drive throughout a driver's education course.

-The safety rating of a vehicle in a driver's education program varies widely according to the location of the school.

-Virtually no agency keeps track of the kind of vehicles and the safety rating of the course cars.

-Few regulations govern the selection process and the use of these vehicles.

Cars.com examined vehicles that were used for driver's training programs during the 2010 school year and discovered that many of the vehicles completely failed on crash-test scores.

The bottom 10 districts for driver's education vehicle safety:

1.) Chicago Public Schools. Grade: F

2.) Elgin, Ill., U-46. Grade: F

3.) (tie) Township District 214 Grade F

3.) (tie) Vernon Hills, Ill., District 128. Grade: F

5.) Romeoville, Ill., Valley View District 365U. Grade: F

6.) (tie) Hinsdale, Ill., District 86. Grade: F

6.) (tie) Woodstock, Ill., District 200. Grade: F

8.) Warren Township District 121. Grade: D-

9.) (tie) Elmhurst, Ill., District 205. Grade: D+

9.) (tie) Palatine, Ill., Township District 211. Grade: D+

Chicago Public Schools, operated the largest driver's education course in the state. This district reportedly uses vehicles with poor safety ratings. Most of the vehicles used in this program are older than the students.

The top 10 districts for driver's education vehicle safety:

1.) (tie) Bloom Township District 206. Grade: A+

1.) (tie) Orland Park, Ill., Community High School District 230. Grade: A+

3.) Niles, Ill., District 219. Grade: A+

4.) (tie) Lyons Township High School District. Grade: A

4.) (tie) J. Sterling Morton School District 201. Grade: A

6.) Naperville, Ill., District 203. Grade: A

7.) Community High School District 218. Grade: B

8.) Rich Township District 227. Grade: B

9.) (tie) Proviso Township District 209. Grade: B

9.) (tie) Thornton Township District 205. Grade: B

"You don't want these young drivers in cars that don't have air bags or that are 10 or 15 years old and frankly are unsafe," said aid Sen. Susan Garrett, D-Lake Forest.

The average age for vehicles that were used in the 2010 and 2011 school year for these programs was slightly newer than 5-years-old. More than half of the vehicles were purchased after 2009. Nearly 70 percent of the vehicles were purchased by districts after 2006. More than 80 percent of these vehicles we purchased after 2001.

Safety should be a top concern of all district officials. Student drivers need to be equipped with vehicles that have the ability to save a life in the event of an accident. Poorly maintained and aging vehicles are unacceptable for our inexperienced drivers who are already at a high risk for a car accident.

If you or your teen driver has been involved in a car accident, the personal injury attorneys and wrongful death lawyers at Abels & Annes offer free and confidential appointments to discuss your rights. Call (866) 99-ABELS. There is no fee unless you win.

More Blog Entries:

Fatigued Drivers Contributing to Risk of Car Accidents in Chicago, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, September 18, 2011

Windy City Drivers Among the Nation's Worst -- Chicago Car Accidents Often Result, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, September 12, 2011

Chicago Car Accident Lawyer

Can You Pass the GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test? Kansas and Missouri Drivers Do Well

You are here: Home / Auto Accidents / Can You Pass the GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test? Kansas and Missouri Drivers Do Well

The annual GMAC Insurance National Drivers test results are out and it appears that 1 in 5 drivers on the nation’s roads are unable to pass the written drivers test. The good news is that Kansas tops the list nationally with the highest average score of 82.9%.  Missouri follows in at a close 8th in the nation with an average score of 81.3%.  The average score nationwide was 77.9%.

So does a better score on this test make for a better driver?  Although there is no way of tracking that statistic to date, logic says that having more knowledge of the laws of our nation’s roadways would certainly help drivers operate their vehicles more safely.  With that in mind, it appears that men are better drivers than women, with 1 in 4 women failing the test.  The northeast scored the lowest on the test, with the midwest region scoring the highest.  Age appears to be a factor too.  Drivers in the 60-65 age range were the highest scoring of all the age groups.

Want to know how you would fare on the test?  Take the exam yourself at www.nationaldriverstest.com and let us know how you did.  The test is 20 basic questions taken from state Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) exams and just takes a few minutes to complete.

At Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys, we know how much of an impact an auto accident can have on a family.  Medical bills, insurance claims, physical therapy, etc., can mount causing major problems for those involved.  Let’s see if we can continue to lead the nation with high scores on driving tests and reduce the number of accidents on our Kansas City roadways!  Be sure to give us your feedback on the test!

If you have suffered a serious injury in an auto accident in Kansas or Missouri, call experienced Kansas City Personal Injury Lawyer James Roswold.  With over 15 years of experience in Auto Injury Accidents, we may be able to help you get through this difficult and stressful time.

Contact Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys to set up a free consultation to discuss your injury claim.  You can download our free book, “10 Essential Steps to Protecting Your Injury Claim“.  We want you to know your rights.

Posted by author on Monday, June 6, 2011 at 9:02 am 
Filed under Auto Accidents · Tagged with Department of Motor Vehicles, DMV, GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test, Kansas, Kansas City, Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys, Missouri, national driving test, written drivers test

Kansas City Auto Accident Blog

Michigan No-Fault ‘reform’ is bad for drivers, but great for insurance companies

“Reform” does not mean lowering premiums. It does not mean ending Michigan’s problem with too many people driving without any auto insurance. “Reform” is the  insurance industry’s way of saying “Let’s boost our [already record-breaking] profits.”

Michigan drivers (and voters) would do well to remember this as Michigan’s auto insurance industry proposes new  “reform” (read, dismantling) of Michigan’s No Fault insurance system. Previously, the Insurance Institute of Michigan and its executive director, Pete Kuhnmuench, have described Michigan No-Fault insurance as “offering the best No-Fault medical benefits of any state” and providing policyholders with “the Cadillac of auto insurance policies.”

What changed?  With Republicans now in control in the Michigan Legislature, the insurance company lobbyists are sensing an opportunity to boost profits in the state - already the highest in the nation in insurance company profitability. Gone are the comments about Michigan “offering the best No-Fault benefits” and other talk of how good a deal our No-Fault system actually is for state residents.

Currently, in return for an auto insurance premium that the Insurance Journal has called “extremely reasonable,” Michigan’s mandatory No-Fault insurance system provides personal protection insurance coverage (also called No-Fault PIP) which guarantees Michigan auto accident victims unlimited medical benefits to assist with their auto accident-related care, recovery and rehabilitation.

That means that even if a Michigan auto accident victim’s medical expenses runs as high as $100,000 or $500,000 or $1 million, those expenses are paid in full by the victim’s No-Fault auto insurance company.

However, under the “reform” proposed by Michigan’s auto insurance industry, that would now all change.

Under the Michigan auto insurance industry’s proposed “reform,” Michigan drivers would trade their unlimited medical benefits for LIMITED medical benefits (say… medical benefits capped at $50,000).

And, the trade-off for being duped into abandoning “the best No-Fault medical benefits” in the country is that Michigan drivers might have a couple hundred dollars shaved off of their annual No-Fault auto insurance premium.

I say “might” because the insurance industry has promised us savings before, in return for greater restrictions. For example, in 1995, they promised us dramatic savings on car insurance in exchange for Michigan adopting the most draconian injury threshold law in the nation - one that made it very hard to sue someone else for injuries and pain and suffering - and yet car insurance premiums only continued to go up.

It looks like this new  dangerous and inadequate auto insurance will soon be tested on Detroit residents, under the unproven statement that it’s “cheaper.”

The absurdity of this is made all the more obvious when two points are considered:

1. First, $50,000 in medical benefits provides woefully inadequate coverage for seriously or catastrophically injured Michigan auto accident victims. “[A] single injury can cost millions of dollars,” the Insurance Institute of Michigan has said. And if $50,000 is the medical cap, it is burned through in the emergency room in any serious injury car accident, leaving the remainder to the taxpayers and Medicaid.

2. There is no guarantee that Michigan drivers will ever actually see any savings as a result of the so-called “reform” that Michigan’s auto insurance industry is trying to foist upon them.

In more than 60 pages of proposed House and Senate bills explaining in excruciating detail the myriad ways in which Michigan auto insurance companies can dismantle Michigan drivers’ unlimited medical benefits, there is not a single word promising Michigan drivers “savings” — let alone how much or for how long — as their compensation for having “the best No-Fault medical benefits” in the country slashed.

The industry has backed proposed Michigan No-Fault “reform” legislation in 2008 and 2010 and will undoubtedly throw its support behind the proposed legislation that is certain to surface in the near future. Notably, both previous bills — Senate Bill 1278 and House Bill 6094 — “died” from inactivity at the end of their respective legislative terms.

“Profits are essential,” as the president of the Insurance Information Institute told the Michigan House Insurance Committee in December 2009.

And, profits lie at the heart of the Michigan auto insurance industry’s crusade to “reform” Michigan’s No-Fault system. Not saving money for Michigan drivers or trying to end Michigan’s “uninsured motorist” problem, as the industry’s press releases and journal articles strain credulity to suggest.

- Steven M. Gursten is head of Michigan Auto Law. He is recognized as one of the nation’s top lawyers handling serious auto injury cases and No-Fault litigation. Michigan Auto Law has received the highest jury verdict for a car accident or truck accident in 2008, 2009 and 2010, according to Michigan Lawyers Weekly.

Additional resources to protect yourself:

Show us the money from proposed changes to our No-Fault law

Why Detroit papers are falling for proposed elimination of Michigan’s No-Fault law

Your Michigan No-Fault benefits

Michigan Auto Law is the largest law firm exclusively handling car accident, truck accident,  motorcycle accident and No-Fault insurance lawsuits throughout the entire state. We have offices in Farmington Hills, Detroit, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids and Sterling Heights to better serve you. Call (800) 777-0028 for a free consultation with a car insurance lawyer. We are here to help you.

Michigan Auto Lawyers

Chicago drivers need to stop crashing into buildings

Manny's Delicatessen, Petterino's, Gold Coast Dogs, multiple Starbucks locations, and most recently the Wilmette Public Library and the Glenview Post Office. Those are just a few of the local businesses that have been hit by cars in the Chicago area. Further, there has been several homes that have been the victims of Chicago auto accidents.

A Wilmette, Illinois library employee was recently hurt after a 56-year-old female driver lost control of her car and drove through a glass and brick wall on the North side of the building, according to Tribune Local. She apparently hit the gas instead of the brakes by mistake and accelerated into the library. The motorist was uninjured, and there was no evidence to suggest that drugs or alcohol played a role in the incident.

The vehicle crashed into a staff room where books are organized to be placed back on shelves. A library employee was working in a desk when the accident occurred, and her desk was moved by the collision impact.

The worker was taken by ambulance to Evanston Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. She was treated and released the same day. No one else was injured in the accident.

In a situation like this the library worker could potentially have two separate personal injury claims. First, due to the fact that she was injured on the job, she would have the right to pursue an Illinois workers' compensation claim. Further, due to the fact that she was injured by a third-party, she will also have the right to pursue a negligence claim against the at fault driver and her auto insurance carrier.

The Wilmette Police Department handled the crash investigation.

The most recent automobile vs. building crash took place on Tuesday in North suburban Glenview around 8:40 AM. There an elderly woman hit the front entrance to the post office with her car, causing $35,000 in damage, that according to the Glenview Patch.

The motorist was driving a 2011 Toyota Avalon in the parking lot at 1400 Patriot Blvd. At that time the vehicle accelerated for unknown reasons and drove over a curb and sidewalk before colliding with the building.

The Glenview police and fire department responded to the accident. The driver was transported to Glenbrook Hospital for medical attention, but the exact nature of her injuries were not reported.

Luckily, no pedestrians or post office customers were injured.

According to Tribune Local, the driver was 84 years old. Due to the woman's condition after the accident, police were not able to interview her at the scene or at the hospital.

So, if you're ever sitting in a restaurant or library, or any other type of establishment and a car drives in and hits you, call the injury lawyers at our office for free case evaluation. I know it sounds silly, but you wouldn't be the first person to have called us.

In the past we have represented a restaurant patron that was injured while sitting in a downtown eatery. An elderly driver lost control of his vehicle, crashed into the restaurant and struck several customers. The case recently settled after litigation involving our client, several other injured restaurant patrons, and the driver's insurance carrier.

Chicago Car Accident Lawyer

Response to biker comment about car drivers causing motorcycle accidents

I received this comment below from Arlin after my blog: Saving lives is more important – keep Michigan’s motorcycle helmet law. According to Arlin, it’s distracted drivers of cars and trucks who cause most motorcycle accidents, not bikers themselves.

Here’s what Arlin had to say:

“Let me ask you this Mr. Lawyer, why don’t the auto-drivers pay more for when they cause the motorcyclist to crash? I’m not sure of the percentages, but isn’t the person who is driving a car at fault most of the time? Why should we pay extra for them? We (bikers) aren’t texting, or on the phone or eating while we are riding! We are on the lookout for the average dumbaa@$ to run us over, watching out for obstacles in the road, and other distracting things the drivers of cars are doing. I have over a million and a half miles under my (belt) from being a commercial driver, and a motorcycle enthusiast… I‘ve seen a lot of stupid things on the road out there, and if I was a cop, I could have written hundreds of tickets a month. Bottom line is cars are the real hazard, and they should pay if they are at fault, just like the motorcyclist should pay if he is at fault. What’s fair is fair.”

Arlin: I agree with you that many motorcycle accidents are caused by distracted drivers of automobiles and trucks. I even addressed this in my blog, How to drive safely around motorcycles in Michigan.  The point I’m always trying to make is how important motorcycle helmet use is, especially with the recent push to repeal Michigan’s motorcycle helmet requirement law. With the increase in motorcycle accident fatalities in Michigan,  I was writing on safety and prevention of accidents.  Certainly car drivers need to be aware of motorcyclists, and part of the problem is many drivers don’t’ “see” a biker who is on the road to begin with.

But as you write, even if you are a very safe rider, accidents can still happen, which is why I’ve been writing about the need to wear a helmet. Studies by NHTSA clearly show that helmet use can prevent traumatic brain injury, catastrophic personal injury, and even death from serious motorcycle accident crashes.

So bikers, why wouldn’t you wear a helmet?!

As to your suggestion about who should pay… If the driver of a car causes the motorcycle accident, the first person responsible for the motorcyclist’s No-Fault benefits would be the auto insurance company of the owner of the automobile involved in the accident with the motorcycle.

So to answer Arlin’s question, when a car causes a motorcycle accident, it is the at-fault driver who is responsible for the biker’s insurance benefits.

Here’s a blog I wrote on the subject: I was in a motorcycle accident in Michigan: How do I get No-Fault benefits?

Arlin, thank you for reading my safety blog. I respect your opinion. I think we both would like to  keep motorcyclists safe, and to help prevent motorcycle crashes from ever occurring by pushing for stronger safety standards and laws.  And when they do occur, we would both like to reduce the likelihood of a totally catastrophic outcome, which is why I’ve been writing about the need to save the Michigan motorcycle  helmet law.

I believe motorcyclists and auto drivers need to share the road and protect each other. However, I’d like to remind drivers to respect the space of bikers by paying extra attention when you’re driving around them, and trying to stay as far away from them as possible. This will further help to keep motorcyclists safe.

Share the road.

- Steven M. Gursten heads Michigan Auto Law and is recognized as one of the nation’s top motorcycle lawyers. He received the highest motorcycle accident settlement in Michigan last year, according to Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Steve has spoken at trial seminars on motorcycle lawsuits, and is available for comment.

Related information to protect yourself:

How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit?

Michigan’s current motorcycle helmet law

Choosing a safe motorcycle helmet

Michigan Auto Law is the largest law firm exclusively handling car accident, truck accident and motorcycle accident cases throughout the entire state. We have offices in Farmington Hills, Detroit, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids and Sterling Heights to better serve you. Call (800) 777-0028 for a free consultation with one of our motorcycle lawyers.

Michigan Auto Lawyers

The best auto insurance coverage for teen drivers in Michigan

There’s a new teenage driving law in Michigan – that restricts passengers of teen drivers and only allows them to drive until 10 p.m. In addition to questions about the new law, our No-Fault lawyers have been getting many questions from concerned parents on insurance coverage for teen drivers, especially during this time of college graduation.

We realize that parents are trying to save money on their kids’ car insurance.  And trust me, we recognize that the cost of insuring a teen driver is expensive - auto insurance is one of the few areas where it is legal to discriminate on the basis of age, after all. But many parents are making huge mistakes by trying to save a few dollars.

The biggest mistake I see regarding teen drivers is not listing your teenager as a “named insured” on your auto insurance policy. This is very dangerous. And if your teen causes (or is injured in) a serious car accident when driving a car that she normally drives but is not listed on as a “named insured” or “named driver,” there can be disastrous consequences. These consequences include your child’s medical bills not being covered by your own auto insurance company, and being barred from suing an at-fault driver who causes serious personal injury to your teenager - even when your teen is completely innocent.

That’s why I’m posting frequently asked questions below, with answers on the best automobile insurance coverage for your new teen drivers.

Q. My child is now a teen driver. What changes do I need to make to my auto insurance to make sure my teenager is protected under the Michigan No-Fault law?
A. A parent must inform his insurance company that there is a new licensed driver in the home. Parents are also supposed to list the primary driver of each vehicle (named-drivers).  If parents purposely avoid listing their teenagers, either as living in the house or as named-drivers,  this could be considered insurance fraud, and coverage can be canceled by your insurance company where the policy is considered void ab initio.

Q.  What is the best level of coverage for my teen/college age driver?
A. Assuming the teen has her own separate auto insurance coverage, the minimum policies she should carry should be $250,000/$500,000 for bodily injury (personal injury if she causes an auto accident) and $250,000/$500,000 in Unininsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM).  If the teen is on her parents’ policy, her coverage is the same. Every person should purchase UM/UIM. It is the best insurance coverage, and many people know nothing about it.  Ask your agent about this coverage, and if your insurance company doesn’t offer these important Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage, you should find a new insurance company to properly protect you and your family.

Q. How should a family’s policy be structured if the teen drives a parent’s car versus having his own car?
A. A teen should be listed as a named-driver, so the auto insurer can never say that it was unaware that there were teens in the house or that the teens drove the car.  If the teen owns the car, then the teen really should be a named-insured or co-named-insured.

Q. If a teen is driving her car and the passengers are injured in an accident, how are those passengers covered by the Michigan No-Fault law?
A. The order of auto insurers would be the same as any car accident:
1. The passenger would receive No-Fault benefits through his own insurance.
2. If the passenger does not have auto insurance, then he would receive No-Fault benefits from a resident-relative.
3. If that relative is not covered,  then the passenger would seek benefits from owner of the car.
4. If the car owner is uninsured then the passenger would receive benefits from the driver of the car.
5. If all else fails, the passenger would look to the Michigan Assigned Claims Facility for No-Fault benefits.

Q. What can a parent/teen do to make sure the teen is protected while riding as a passenger in a friend’s car?
A. As long as the teen or resident-relative has insurance, the teen is protected by the Michigan No-Fault law and can receive all of the No-Fault insurance benefits in case she is injured in a serious car accident.  As long as the teen is not operating an uninsured vehicle that she could be considered an owner of by frequent use (constructive ownership), she is going to receive No-Fault insurance benefits from somewhere (see answer to previous question).

Q. How can teens and parents minimize the costs and premiums of their auto insurance policies while still being fully protected? (higher deductible, etc?)
A. Once the proper insurance coverage has been determined, call an independent insurance agent that represents several auto insurance companies, to determine which insurer will give the best rate.

- Steve Gursten is recognized as one of the nation’s top lawyers handling serious car accident injury cases and auto No-Fault litigation. Steve speaks and writes extensively on safe driving and Michigan’s auto  laws, and is available for comment.

Related information:

TBI – leading cause of death and disability for American youth

Top 5 hazardous actions by teen drivers

Pain and suffering and your car accident

Michigan Auto Law is the largest law firm exclusively handling car accident, truck accident and motorcycle
accident cases throughout the entire state. We have offices in Farmington Hills, Detroit, Ann Arbor, Grand
Rapids and Sterling Heights to better serve you. Call (800) 777-0028 for a free consultation with one of our insurance lawyers.

Michigan Auto Lawyers

Study shows Chicago drivers could benefit from reviewing the rules of the road

Over 20 percent of drivers in the United States, approximately 36.9 million of them, would fail a driving test if they had to take one today, Yahoo news is reporting. This is according to a new survey of motorists nationwide done by GMAC Insurance.

Our Chicago injury lawyers note that this statistic is actually an improvement compared to last year, when 38 million drivers were unfit to be on the road. Nationally this year the average score was 77.9%, compared to 76.2% in 2010. The results indicate that many drivers on the road could have dangerous driving habits, which could in turn lead to a higher number of Illinois traffic collisions.

Here are some of the highlights of the survey:

-85% of the drivers in the survey did not know the proper actions to take while approaching a yellow light;

-75% of motorists did not know safe following distances;

-Drivers in the Midwest scored the highest on the test, while drivers in the Northeast scored the lowest;

-The oldest group of drivers tested, ages 60 to 65, scored the highest on the test at 80.3%;

-Wyoming scored the highest of all states, where more than 95% of drivers passed the test; and

- Of major cities, Washington D.C. fared the worst on the test.

The annual GMAC drivers test was given to 5130 drivers from the 50 states. It's a 20 question exam with questions taken from state department of motor vehicles exams.

As a lawyer that has been handling auto accident claims for many years, I can tell you that the results of this test does not surprise me. Every week I deal with personal injury cases where a driver involved either 1. did not know the rules of the road or 2. failed to obey the rules of the road.

Here are some of the rules that are most often violated:

My office often receives phone calls from drivers who have been injured when they failed to yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic while making a left turn. They usually have similar excuses, such as the other driver came out of nowhere, or the other driver must have been speeding because otherwise they would have seen them. We always decline these cases. At the same time, we often represent drivers who were injured by motorists who failed to yield while turning left.

Some of the other most common violations I come across would be driving too fast for conditions and following too closely. Usually this rule of the road violation results in the driver rear ending the vehicle in front of them.

Another violation I often deal with, which can be the most deadly, is failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. So often motorists in urban areas are busy looking out for the danger of other vehicles, they forget to keep a proper lookout for pedestrians who are defenseless and can be severely injured by even a light impact.

The same can be said for bicycle accidents. In my experience, drivers turning left will often yield to oncoming motor vehicle traffic and forget to pay attention to bicyclists. Or drivers forget to look for bike riders when opening car doors. Even slow speed bike accidents can result in serious trauma.

If you have been hurt in an Illinois auto accident where another driver failed to obey the rules of the road, contact the Chicago personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes for a free case evaluation. Call 312-475-9595.

Chicago Car Accident Lawyer

Link confirmed between truck accidents and bad truck drivers

It’s probably not a surprise to anyone, but the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has confirmed in a study released on April 21, 2011 that a trucker’s bad driving record — especially a driving record showing previous truck accidents — is a strong predictor of future truck accidents.

This is something every experienced truck accident attorney already knows — especially in Michigan. When I’m hired by someone injured in a truck crash, I always carefully research the truck driver’s record (tickets and points on license), past truck accident involvement, speeding and hours of service violations.

The ATRI study, called “Predicting Truck Crash Involvement: A 2011 Update,” was based upon tracking 582,772 U.S. truck drivers over a two-year period. The report highlights 12 driver behaviors that make a truck driver over 50 percent more likely to be involved in a truck accident — as compared to truckers with good driving records.

Said Keith Klein, EVP/COO of Transport America, “By understanding how driver histories relate to future crash probability, carriers can develop targeted solutions for minimizing future safety risks.”

Of course, the reality is that far too many trucking companies ignore driver history entirely.  These companies continue to hire truck drivers who have caused many prior accidents.  I’ve written about one of my cases, where the trucker who caused the accident already had more than a dozen suspensions to his CDL license.  When companies won’t act to hire safe drivers and stop truck accidents, at least lawyers can add counts in injury lawsuits based upon negligent entrustment, supervision and monitoring.  Michigan may not have punitive damages, but these common law causes of action are still good law and should be pursued by attorneys in serious truck accident cases.

In this latest report, ATRI compared these findings to those from 2005 and found that the same factors still predict driver involvement in causing truck crashes. The ATRI also describes best practices for safety enforcement and for the trucking industry to help address the dangers identified in the study.

Last week, I spoke about the disappointment I felt as a truck accident attorney regarding how the Obama Administration and the FMCSA has watered down the safety information available on dangerous trucking companies and truck drivers, as a result of intense lobbying by the trucking industry. Perhaps this new study – as obvious as it is – will cause them to change their mind.  Identifying dangerous truck drivers and bad trucking companies is one step closer to preventing trucking accidents.

- Steven Gursten is a partner of Michigan Auto Law and one of the most renowned truck accident attorneys in the country. He is past president of the American Association for Justice Truck Accident Litigation Group, and has received the top-reported jury verdict in Michigan for truck accidents. Steve was named a Michigan Lawyers Weekly Leader in the Law for his efforts in promoting national truck safety.

Related information:

Why truck accident lawyers must investigate a trucker’s background

Discovery documents for Michigan truck accident attorneys

Truck rules and regulations

Michigan Auto Law exclusively handles car accident, truck accident and motorcycle accident cases throughout the entire state of Michigan. We have offices in Farmington Hills, Sterling Heights, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids and Detroit to better serve you. Call (800) 777-0028 for a free consultation with one of our truck accident attorneys.

Michigan Auto Lawyers

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We Need More Women Drivers

When a couple goes out to dinner or whatever, who drives? Even among progressive people, the man usually drives.

This is probably a bad idea. Here's why, according to accident statistics (source - Google statistics that seem legit):

Men are 77 percent more likely than women to die in a car accident. Before you say anything, this is based on miles driven. So it builds in the math the fact that men drive more often.

And while the study found that the highway death rate was higher for an 82 year-old woman, she is less likely to have an accident on the road than a 17 year-old boy

Women are 50 percent less likely to get a DWI

Women are 10 percent less likely to get a moving violation

Men get in 25 percent more accidents while looking at themselves in the rear view or shade mirrors

I only made up the last one. The bottom line is in driving down the road separated by a double yellow line, I'd breathe a little easier if I knew that driver was a woman.

Posted by Laura G. Zois

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Huntsville Car Accident Raises Questions About Elderly Drivers

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A car wreck in Huntsville, AL involving an 82 year old driver raises questions about how states should regulate elderly drivers. A 3 car accident at the intersection of Blue Spring Rd and Winchester Rd was the result of an elderly driver running a red light. According to the Huntsville Times, Eddie Elliott, ran a stop light and struck another vehicle which collided with another vehicle. Sadly, Mr. Elliott died in the wreck and the driver and passenger of another vehicle were injured. The article does not mention what caused this wreck; however, it does raises questions as to how we monitor elderly drivers.

As we get older, our reflexes, flexibility, visual acuity, memory and the ability to focus all decline. Medicines that treat various ailments also make it more difficult to focus and make snap decisions. According to a 2007 USA Today Article by Robert Davis and Anthony DeBarros entitled "Older, dangerous drivers a growing problem" "Twenty-three states require licensed drivers of a certain age to appear periodically at a department of motor vehicles office to renew their license. In 16 states, older drivers must prove that they can see well enough to drive. Some states have tried other ways to identify drivers who, because of age-related health problems, put themselves or others at risk." While we all want to keep our sense of independence as we get older, it is imperative that we closely monitor our elderly family and friends to make sure they are physically and mentally capable to be safe drivers. There is no question, that states need to come up with an effective and efficient way to monitor the driving capabilities of elderly drivers.

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Survey shows 19% of drivers use internet while driving

March 3rd, 2011 by admin Leave a reply »

According to a recent study conducted by State Farm Insurance, 19 percent of drivers admit to surfing the internet while driving. In the study, 912 licensed drivers were asked and the average age of each participant was 30.

Officials believe that the number of drivers that surf the web while driving is actually much higher because it is the younger population that are the most frequent users of their cell phones.

The survey was conducted in November, but State Farm has said that they will be conducting a more detailed survey later this year. Many of the drivers who said that they surf the internet while driving also said that they usually wait until they are at a stop sign or stop light.

For more info visit the USA Today website.

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Senate Bill calls for impounding cars of drunk drivers

Next » Posted On: March 4, 2011 by The Farber Law Group

Washington state Senate Bill 5000, which mandates impounding the car or truck of drivers who have been arrested for driving under the influence, just passed the senate by unanimous vote. The bill states that vehicles of suspected DUI drivers be impounded for a 12-hour period after the driver's arrest.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island. Haugen said:
"This addresses a serious threat to public safety. Under our existing laws, it's possible for someone to be cited for drunken driving, return to their car while still intoxicated, and resume driving. It happens, and it's a danger to other drivers."

The bill does allow for another title holder on the vehicle to pick up the vehicle before the 12 impound hold ends.

See the full bill here.

Drunken driving is a serious threat to law abiding citizens. Every year, approximately 315 people are killed in Washington state due to drunken drivers and many more are injured. In Washington state the legal standard for blood alcohol content is 0.08 percent.

This information is provided by Seattle Car Accident Lawyer blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent the victims of drunken drivers and their family. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages.

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